“〜ni wa ataranai”: No Need to 〜, Not Worth 〜 [JLPT N1]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
「よくあることだから驚くには当たらない」 — that reaction is overdone; no need for it.
「驚くには当たらない」 — it hasn't come to that; no need for that
To urge someone not to overreact, 「彼が怒るのも、驚くには当たらない」 (that he's angry is no cause for surprise) — 「〜には当たらない」 = no need to ～, not enough to ～, used to “deny that some reaction or evaluation is warranted” — meaning “the matter hasn't come to that; it's not worth／necessary to (be surprised, blame, admire) so.” This guide covers attachment (a verb dictionary form), its written formal feel, and separating it from the colloquial 「ことはない.」
Core: the matter isn't that serious; no need to react that way
「verb dictionary form ＋ には当たらない」 means “no need to ～, not enough to ～, no call for ～” — denying that “some reaction／evaluation is fitting or necessary”:
- この程度のミスは、非難するには当たらない (a mistake of this degree isn't worth blaming).
- たいした功績でもないのだから、褒めるには当たらない (it's no great feat, so no need to praise it).
- 彼の成功は運もあるが、そう驚くには当たらない (his success owes something to luck, but it's not that surprising).
Feel: 「〜には当たらない」 = “(the matter) isn't worth／doesn't call for (reacting) that way” — what precedes is mostly a “reaction／evaluation” verb like 驚く・感心する・非難する・褒める・同情する, the whole saying “it hasn't come to that; no need to react so.” It carries a written, formal, reasoning tone, often to urge someone “no need to get so worked up／to judge so.” It corresponds to “no need to ～, not enough to ～, nothing to ～ about, no call to ～.”
Forms & attachment
| Preceding | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb dictionary form | verb dictionary form ＋ には当たらない | 驚くには当たらない （it's hardly surprising） |
| noun (suru-stem) | noun ＋ には当たらない | 非難には当たらない （it hardly deserves blame） |
Examples in context
- 一度の失敗くらいで、落ち込むには当たらない。(Over a single failure, there's no need to feel down.)
- 予想通りの結果だから、驚くには当たらない。(It's the expected result, so nothing to be surprised at.)
- 彼の言い分にも一理あり、一概に責めるには当たらない。(His side has a point too, so no call to blame him outright.)
- その程度のことで、大騒ぎするには当たらない。(Over something that minor, no need to make a fuss.)
- 誰にでもある失敗で、恥じるには当たらない。(A mistake anyone makes — no need to feel ashamed.)
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
① It means ‘no need to ～, not enough to ～,' denying an overdone reaction／evaluation. 「〜には当たらない」's core is “deny the necessity／appropriateness of some reaction or evaluation” — meaning “(the matter hasn't come to that,) it's not worth／necessary to (be surprised, blame, admire) so.” It's often to urge someone not to overreact: 驚くには当たらない (no need to be surprised — nothing to be surprised at), 非難するには当たらない (not enough to blame — not serious enough to blame), 感心するには当たらない (no need to admire — not that impressive). Its implication is “the matter isn't that serious／impressive; your reaction is over the top.” It corresponds to “no need to ～, not enough to ～, no call to ～, nothing to ～ about.” Test: to say “(the matter hasn't come to that,) no need／no call to (react／evaluate) that way” → には当たらない.
② Attach a verb dictionary form; what precedes is mostly a reaction／evaluation verb. Get the attachment right. Precedes a verb dictionary form (驚く・非難する・褒める・感心する・同情する), mostly “reaction or evaluation” verbs — because 「には当たらない」 denies that “this reaction／evaluation is necessary.” It can also take a suru-noun (非難には当たらない). Mnemonic: (reaction／evaluation verb dictionary form) ＋ には当たらない = no need to ～, not enough to ～. (Note: 「当たる」 here means “amount to, be worth,” so 「には当たらない」 = “not amount to (being worth) ～, no need to ～.”)
③ A written, formal register; division of labor with the colloquial 「ことはない.」 「〜には当たらない」 carries a written, formal, reasoning color, common in commentary and formal admonition. It's close in meaning to the colloquial 「ことはない」 but differs in register: 「〜には当たらない」 = no need to ～, not enough to ～ (written, formal, denying “worth reacting／evaluating that way”): 驚くには当たらない. 「〜ことはない」 = no need to ～, no necessity to ～ (more colloquial, common in everyday consolation): 驚くことはない (no need to be surprised — colloquial), 泣くことはない (don't cry, no need to). Both express “no need to ～,” differing in register: には当たらない leans written formal (a “reasoning, judging” flavor); ことはない leans colloquial everyday (a “consoling, soothing” flavor). Test: to formally say “not enough to ～” → には当たらない; to colloquially console “no need to ～” → ことはない.
🔄 Compare: には当たらない／ことはない／までもない／とは言い過ぎ
| Form | Emphasis | Register | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜には当たらない | no need to ～, not enough to ～ (deny an overdone reaction/evaluation) | written, formal | 驚くには当たらない （it's hardly surprising） |
| 〜ことはない | no need to ～, no necessity to ～ | colloquial | 驚くことはない （there's no need to be surprised） |
| 〜までもない | no need to even ～ (even the action is unnecessary, lighter) | written | 言うまでもない （it goes without saying） |
| 〜とは言い過ぎ | to say ～ is an overstatement | general | 天才とは言い過ぎ |
💡 An exam judgment tip
「〜には当たらない」 = no need to ～, not enough to ～ (deny an overdone reaction／evaluation) — three points: ① it means “the matter hasn't come to that; no need to react／evaluate that way” — often to urge someone not to overreact (驚くには当たらない = nothing to be surprised at); ② attach a verb dictionary form, what precedes mostly a reaction／evaluation verb (驚く・非難する・褒める); ③ a written formal register, with a division of labor from the colloquial 「ことはない (no need).」 This pattern has a real “calm, reasoning” flavor — when others overreact, 「〜には当たらない」 in one line steadily points out “it's not that serious; no need for that.” To objectively say in commentary or formal settings “not enough to ～, no call to ～,” this is spot-on; for everyday consoling, return to the colloquial 「〜ことはない.」
❓ Quick FAQ
Q: Do 「驚くには当たらない」 and 「驚くことはない」 mean the same?
Very close (both “no need to be surprised”), the difference is register and tone. 「〜には当たらない」 = no need to ～, not enough to ～ (written, formal, a “reasoning, judging” flavor): it's a written, formal phrasing, tone leaning “calmly judging ‘this matter isn't worth reacting that way,'” common in commentary, argument, formal admonition: 彼の失敗は想定内で、驚くには当たらない (his failure was expected, so not surprising — a calm judgment, with an analytical tone). It feels “rational, at a distance.” 「〜ことはない」 = no need to ～, no necessity to ～ (more colloquial, a “consoling, soothing” flavor): it's a colloquial, everyday phrasing, tone leaning “gently reassuring the other ‘don't be like that, no need,'” common in consolation, encouragement: そんなに気にすることはないよ (no need to fret so — a consoling tone), 泣くことはない (don't cry, no need to). It feels “kind, close.” Difference: 「には当たらない」 leans written, rational judgment (not worth that); 「ことはない」 leans colloquial, gentle consolation (no need for that). Test: written, commentary, calmly saying “not enough to ～” → には当たらない; colloquial, consoling, gently saying “no need to ～” → ことはない. E.g. in an editorial 「この程度の値上げは、騒ぐには当たらない (a price rise of this degree isn't worth a fuss — judgment)」 uses には当たらない; consoling a friend 「失敗しても、落ち込むことはないよ (even if you fail, no need to be down — consolation)」 uses ことはない. Same “no need,” one a rational judgment, one gentle consolation.
Q: What does the 「当たる」 in 「には当たらない」 mean? Why does it mean ‘no need'?
Here 「当たる」 takes the sense “amount to, be worth, count as,” so 「〜には当たらない」 = “not amount to (being worth) ～, not count as needing to ～,” extended to “no need to ～, not enough to ～.” Unpacking: 「当たる」 has many senses (hit, guess right, be exposed to…), one being “amount to, correspond to, be worth (doing something)” — e.g. 「非難に当たる行為 (an act that amounts to／is worth blaming).」 And 「〜には当たらない」 is its negative: “not amount to (being worth) ～, hasn't come to needing to ～”: 驚くには当たらない = “(this matter) hasn't reached the point of being worth surprise” = “no need to be surprised,” 非難するには当たらない = “hasn't reached the point of being worth blame” = “not enough to blame.” So its logic is “the matter's seriousness／impressiveness hasn't reached the threshold of ‘being worth (your reaction),'” hence “no need／not enough to react so.” Once you understand 「当たる = be worth, amount to,」 you see why 「には当たらない」 is “no need, not enough to” — because it's “not worth (reacting that way).” Mnemonic: 〜には当たらない = not worth／not enough to ～ = no need to ～.
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「よくあることだから、驚く___。」(No need to be surprised)
(A) には当たらない (B) かねない (C) どころではない (D) ほかない
Q2. 「には当たらない」とよく接するのは?
(A) 驚く・褒める・非難する（emotional-reaction verbs） (B) 食べる・飲む (C) 走る・歩く (D) 開ける・閉める
Q3. 「褒めるには当たらない」の意味は?
(A) No need to praise (an overreaction)
(B) Must praise
(C) Already praised
(D) Wants to be praised
Q4. 「には当たらない」の語感は?
(A) Feeling a reaction is excessive—there's no need for that
(B) Expresses gratitude
(C) Expresses a condition
(D) Expresses time
Q5. 接法が正しいのは?
(A) 非難するには当たらない。 (B) 非難するを当たらない。
(C) 非難してには当たらない。 (D) 非難には当たらないだ驚く。
Answer Explanations
1. (A) には当たらない ── No need to be surprised.
2. (A) ── Often attaches to emotional-reaction verbs.
3. (A) ── No need to praise.
4. (A) ── Feeling the reaction is excessive—no need.
5. (A) ── 「非難するには当たらない」 is correct.